Andy Janning
(He/Him)
Brownsburg, Indiana
As seen in:
CUInsight.com,
McDowell News
Covers:
Financial crime, financial toxicity of cancer, financial services
Speaker, financial advocate for cancer patients, and storyteller. Creator of LifeOverDebt.com.
Articles by Andy Janning
A few million and a phone number
The NCUA Inspector General just confirmed that internal fraud drove two credit union liquidations last year. Unilever Federal Credit Union in New Jersey was chartered in 1948. Served 1,448 members during its 77 years. Gone. Aldersgate Federal Credit Union in Marion, Illinois. Chartered in 1962. Served pastors, clergy, and church staff of the United Methodist Church. Went from conservatorship to liquidation in less than two weeks. Gone.
The impossible gala
On March 27, an impossible dream became reality—the first fundraising gala of the TriUnity Foundation. Led by LeAnn Case, TriUnity is a new national nonprofit that was launched by Jed Meyer at St. Cloud Financial CU to award cash grants of $2,500 and $10,000 to members suffering financial trauma from cancer and other terminal illnesses. Below are the remarks I had the privilege to share as the event’s keynote speaker. By the end of the evening, we’d raised over $166,000.
Addition Financial Credit Union transforms “Renovate to Educate” program to address critical needs in Central Florida schools
Credit Union Spotlight, presented by CUInsight, features credit unions taking action and changing their local communities. Join us as we recognize and celebrate the important work these credit unions do to bring their mission to life. Education has been part of Addition Financial Credit Union’s DNA since its founding by a small group of Orange County educators in 1937.
No es fácil
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A century of trust (and hairstyles). A future of possibilities.
Minnesota Credit Union Network One hundred years ago, silent movies gave way to “talkies,” and women donning short, tousled bobs flocked to take in popular films like Ben-Hur and The Phantom of the Opera. The American Telegraph & Telephone Company opened a second transcontinental phone line, making it possible—though clunky and expensive—for Americans to connect with distant friends and family.
Can we do better?
I'm building the Life Over Debt alliance, and serve as the storyteller for the TriUnity Foundation, to help millions of people heal from the financial devastation of cancer, the second-leading cause of death in America. I've interviewed countless cancer patients, doctors, caregivers, researchers, advocates, and credit union professionals. All of them agree that credit unions can and must do more for folks like Michael. He would urge you to read to the end. So would I.
Be the umbrella - CUInsight
For almost five years, I’ve been urging credit unions to deliver meaningful help to millions of members struggling with the financial catastrophe of cancer, the second-leading cause of death in America and arguably the most expensive disease any of us will face.
Carnival Day set for Saturday at Marion Tailgate Market
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, the Marion Tailgate Market will host Carnival Day, which will feature the free inflatable bounce house, lemonade, balloon animals, Library Book Mobile, DIY carnival crafts and games, scavenger hunt, raffles and more.
Why are we so lonely?
Do you remember the proverbial “watercooler chat?” Or even catching up in the breakroom in the morning? When topics ranged from the game last night to who got voted off the island in Survivor? Maybe you talked about work for a bit, but most of the conversation was warming up for the day and building relationships with our colleagues. Flash forward to 2024. It’s tougher to recruit and retain top talent and all of us seem to be running faster than ever.
12 months. Over $7,000. 250%.
For over a year, a small group of credit unions have been investigating various debt relief strategies to help members suffering through the financial crisis of cancer. A member at one of those credit unions, New Orleans Firemen’s FCU, recently benefitted from NOFFCU’s commitment to this cause. Tina’s* life has been turned inside out by multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer that targets plasma cells, ever since she was diagnosed in 2020.
Federal Reserve proposes changes to debit card interchange cap
The Federal Reserve issued a proposal Wednesday to make significant changes to the current debit card interchange cap. CUNA strongly opposes any changes—legislative or regulatory—to the current interchange system.
NAFCU offers ways to support financial innovation ahead of hearing
Ahead of today’s House Financial Services subcommittee hearing on modernizing financial services through innovation and competition, NAFCU Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Greg Mesack outlined several considerations to limit regulatory burdens on credit unions and support a level playing field. “Consumers today come to expect technological developments from their financial institution—from online banking to mobile bill pay,” Mesack wrote.
How lottery winners can help us reinvest in financial literacy and education
You probably heard about the recent winner of the Powerball jackpot lottery, right? The Powerball Lottery had ballooned to a record amount of $2.04 billion by November 2022. Three months later, 31-year-old Californian Edwin Castro finally turned in the winning ticket, choosing the one-time payout of $997.6 million cash option. Following the required federal taxes, he walked away with $628.5 million.
Build a consumer lending portal your way
In a world where customization reigns supreme, the adage “Have it your way” resonates more than ever. Imagine having the power to truly customize your lending experience, both as a member and as a credit union. That’s precisely what a cutting-edge Consumer Lending Portal offers—a platform that empowers you to craft your ideal lending journey, providing a preferred online experience for members while delivering faster decision-making capabilities for your credit union.
Good grief
Grief gets a bad rap. It’s associated almost exclusively with sad and painful events, which is why people tend to avoid dealing with or discussing it. But over the last few years, I’ve embraced the notion that grief is actually a good thing.
Chess with the old man
“You really should play more chess.” My dad said this to me a lot when I was a kid, every time he saw me playing endless games of Pac-Man on my good ol’ Atari 2600 game console about a million years ago. Most of the time, I’d ignore him. My justification for my indifference was simple; chess was played by stodgy old men with nothing better to do, and awkward adolescents who had been consigned to the lowest possible castes of their respective middle school societies.
Pause cancer debt
Credit unions should pause all monthly loan payments, interest accrual, and late charges for a minimum of 12 months for every member in treatment for cancer. By doing so, we would provide immediate financial relief to the millions of members fighting for their lives against the second-leading cause of death in America.
CUInsight Minute with John Pettit – July 22, 2022 - CUInsight
Welcome to the CUInsight Minute, sixty seconds from our Managing Editor John Pettit with our favorite reads from the week. Mentioned: End terminal debt by ANDY JANNING, MAN ON FIRE, INC. This is the most important CUInsight article I’ve ever written.
End terminal debt
This is the most important CUInsight article I’ve ever written. In May, I launched End Terminal Debt, a project to convince every bank, credit union, credit card company, and mortgage lender to forgive the debt they hold for the estimated 4 million Americans with terminal cancer. End Terminal Debt was inspired by Idaho Central Credit Union. Last year, they paid off the credit cards and car loan for a member named Elizabeth who was dying of terminal colon cancer.
Faces in the crowd
The 2022 National Credit Union Foundation Celebration (NCUF photo) I’ve served the National Credit Union Foundation at The Foundation Dinner, its signature fundraising event during CUNA’s Governmental Affairs Conference where our industry’s finest are honored during the Herb Wegner Memorial Awards, in two ways: first as the event’s photographer from 2015 – 2017, and then as the master of ceremonies from 2018 to present.
Haikus for you - CUInsight
I’ve been fighting writer’s block for the last few weeks. It sucks. The End. I almost submitted those three sentences as my entire Community article for this quarter. Don’t think Robbie would be too happy with me, though. I searched high and low for ways to break the block. One suggestion was to write in a different style than the typical essay.
2 good dogs - CUInsight
My wife Karla has been in treatment for breast cancer and a blood clot in her heart for over 2 years. Although the good days outnumber the bad days now, she is far from 100%. On the bad days, she needs to feel me and our daughters close to her to help her get through. She’s been clear about that need since treatment started, and we’ve been happy to serve her in that way. One occupant of our house already knew that about Karla: our dog Lily. I’ve written about our adventures with her before.
What not to say at the airport
I’ve flown at least 250 times over the last decade. I love virtually everything about the experience: getting up early for an Oh-Dark:30am flight, the hustle and bustle of the airports, giving small kindnesses to a fellow sojourner and receiving theirs in return, the thrill of a new city, the joy of coming back to your own. I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed air travel until the pandemic grounded me.
Side Effects: Finale | Miles to Go
Where do we go from here? The end of this documentary must herald some transformation that proves the financial crisis of cancer matters enough for us to fix it. The coronavirus pandemic gives us some clues. As Carla Tardif from Family Reach said back in Act 1, the relatively recent and acute impact of the coronavirus on our financial and physical well-being gave all of us a glimpse of what happens when a health crisis creates a financial crisis.
Side Effects: Act 3 | Here Right Now
I don’t know how to begin her story because I know, and she knows, how it will end. And every time I think about it, I break. I’ve avoided writing this essay, pushed it to the very edge of my deadline because it hurts too much. It feels like her eulogy even though she is still breathing and smiling and loving on her family in the windswept reaches of southern Idaho. Elizabeth is going to die. She knows how it’s going to happen. The only question is when. I know that’s unpleasant.
Improve your stories in 3 words
I didn’t realize how much I had to learn about storytelling until I needed to create the most important stories of my career. For over a year, I worked on Side Effects for the National Credit Union Foundation, our groundbreaking documentary series of 18 interconnected films, essays, and audio episodes about the financial crisis of cancer in America, and how credit unions can make a difference. Check out the new audio episode about how one unconventional loan decision helped save a member’s life.
Side Effects: Act 2 | Stones and Hope
“Before you go, I want you to have these,” Klara says as I’m almost out the door of the house that, by every objective measure, she and her husband Nate shouldn’t own. She holds two small stones. After a quick take-this gesture, she drops them both into my hand. “They’re from Lake Gitche Gumee, one of our favorite places in the world,” she says, reverent and wistful. “Have you ever been there?” I tell her I haven’t, but I do recognize the Ojibwe name of the body of water we call Lake Superior.
12,614 miles - CUInsight
Next month, I get to introduce you to some of the bravest, strongest, and most humble people I’ve ever known: Cancer patients who have endured overwhelming physical, emotional, and financial trauma. Credit union teammates trying to serve them. Researchers and patient care advocates sounding the alarm about the cost of cancer in America, a financial crisis hiding in plain sight.
Your member has cancer. What do you do?
We need your help! Take our anonymous two-question survey on how you’re serving members/employees with cancer: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/side-effects Credit unions have been incredible this year – the philosophy of “people helping people” has been taken to new heights as employees serve as financial first responders. This pandemic has put a spotlight on the importance of credit unions as valuable partners and allies in the community.
Side effects - CUInsight
Even though emergency surgery removed the mass, it flung enough of itself into Elizabeth’s lungs, liver, and stomach to keep her on a nearly continuous chemotherapy regimen ever since that has been, too often, more brutal than the cancer itself. Since then, cancer has tried to annihilate her physically, emotionally, and psychologically. It hasn’t succeeded.
The crisis hiding in plain sight
My wife was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer on August 13, 2019. Many of you know that. I haven’t been shy about it. I’ve talked about it in previous articles and documented her #KarlaStrong journey on Facebook and Instagram. I join countless others who use social media and other online platforms to learn about, rage against, find support for, and cope with the physical, emotional, and psychological toll of cancer.
I wish - CUInsight
Hello, all you cool cats and kittens! Crud. Sorry about that. I’ve been quarantined for the last 102 years (approximately) and have watched way too much “Tiger King” on Netflix (don’t judge…you’ve binged it too). The streaming service has been an oasis of predictability these days. I’ve needed that stability. My life, like yours, has been tossed into a blender. My speaking and shooting schedules are in disarray. Projects have been defunded and collaborations delayed.
Adventures in stock photos - Finale: Love and gratitude
On President’s Day 2019, as I was heading home from keynoting the all-employee celebration for KALSEE Credit Union in Michigan, I jotted down two simple questions: “How many members and employees actually appear in photos on CU websites? Does it matter?” Those 15 words launched a year-long journey of discovery called the Credit Union Photography Project, arguably the largest research effort of its kind in the history of our movement.
Adventures in stock photos - Act 3: Believe Dave Klavitter
Dave Klavitter, 2017 Disruption Conference (c) Andy Janning Writing this article brought me to tears. Please read to the end to understand why. I’ve been quite vocal about replacing stock photo libraries with images of real members and employees. All of my Community articles this year have supported this assertion with as much data and conviction as I can muster.
Adventures in stock photos - Act 2: Free love dating with pretty people
In Act 1 of this series, I shared some trends that have emerged from the 1,359 credit union websites the CUPP Research Team visited for The Credit Union Photography Project: 90% of credit union websites use at least one stock photo 70% of all images cataloged so far — 36,316 as of October 2019 — are stock. Nearly 84% of credit union websites don’t have a single image of an actual member. Big deal, right? Nearly every CU uses stock photos. And since they’re so popular, how bad can they be?
Adventures in stock photos – Act 1: The credit union photography project - CUInsight
What types of photographs do credit unions use on their websites? I’ve been obsessed with this question for years not only because I’m a photographer and filmmaker, but because visual storytelling has never been more important in our collective efforts to differentiate and grow in a crowded marketplace. Eager to do my part, I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to create some of our industry’s largest photojournalism projects that celebrate the everyday heroes at the heart of our movement.
What will they see?
(Author’s note: This story will take you 7 minutes to read. It has 1,220 words, 4 pictures, and 1 observation you may find offensive. Enjoy.) Before we go any further, I need you to look at this man’s face. Really see him. That smile? Joy incarnate. If your own smile hasn’t widened by now, or at least flickered to life just a little, you’re going to hate everything else that comes next. This is Allie, and he is a credit union member. He belongs to one of the smallest credit unions in Indiana.
Thoughts on CurrentC
Posted by John Best, Best Innovation Group (BIG) on November 21, 2014 For TechCrunch’s recent article, they reverse engineered CurrentC’s application (currently only available by invitation) and made some observations based on what they found. In light of this press, as well as BIG’s involvement in CU Wallet (which is using Paydiant’s technology), we decided to do some research of our own. Full disclosure: I am the biggest Apple Fanboy there is. I have everything Apple.
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